Barbara J. Hamby

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Rain is a Four Letter Word

It was a far, far better day today than yesterday. I still have a hangover of fuzzy-headedness after a day of intense vertigo. Old age is definitely not for sissies, but the alternative is so final.

A nice surprise in the mail today was a royalty check from Booklocker, Inc. We won’t talk about the size of the check, but I definitely won’t need an armored car or even a registered letter to get it to the bank. Something is better than nothing, right?

Seattle is getting a lot of publicity due to their many consecutive days of rain. We are one day behind them. Flooding is prevalent wherever there are waterways and hillsides are sliding with trees falling on cars, houses and fences. We are promised a day of partial sun next Sunday, then more rain indefinitely. Seattle’s forecast, as I heard it, doesn’t include any dry days in the foreseeable future.

Several years ago when we had similar conditions in this area, I was living in Vancouver and wrote the following poem:

Climate Commentary

Rain is a four-letter word
in these parts.  Rising rivers
roar beyond their borders,
scoop up houses, decks, debris,
and trees to bump bridges, block
boats’ passageways, creating
havoc for wary travelers.

Gratefully safe atop my
little hill, I survey a new
lake, once a bog, across the way. 
Frogs serenade a crescendo
in tribute to their enhanced
surroundings.  Will my next year’s
tax bill reflect view property?

My concern is minor compared
to overwhelming disaster
suffered by so many victims.
I’m ashamed to voice my trivial
thoughts.  Better to comment on
the care of helpful citizens
for fellow humans.  No shootouts
on our city’s streets today!